MSI Claw 8 EX AI Review: Intel Panther Lake Power in a Handheld

The mobile gaming console market continues to evolve rapidly, with manufacturers striving to find the perfect balance between high-end performance, ergonomic comfort, and long battery life. MSI is entering the race with an upgraded version of its handheld console, the MSI Claw 8 EX AI, equipped with Intel's flagship Arc G3 Extreme chip. Interestingly, the local market remains quite niche—while Nintendo's systems enjoy widespread popularity, the same cannot be said for Windows and Linux-based portables like the Steam Deck and Lenovo Legion Go. While these devices offer impressive graphical capabilities to run advanced PC games on the go, their size and weight often make them less practical for travel.

Performance and Power Efficiency under the Hood

The most significant change in the Claw EX lies beneath the chassis. The new console is powered by Intel's Arc G3 Extreme chip, based on the Panther Lake architecture, delivering a substantial leap in performance and energy efficiency compared to its predecessor. This is a notable upgrade in a market where many competitors still rely on AMD's Ryzen Z1 and Z2 Extreme processors. Despite the new processor and minor design tweaks, MSI retained several core features, including an 8-inch IPS display, an 80 Wh battery, dual USB-C ports, an audio jack, and a microSD card slot. Storage remains fixed at 1TB, though it now utilizes a faster solid-state drive.

Ergonomics and Display Compromises

Design-wise, MSI introduced a wider chassis with elongated grip handles, making the console significantly more comfortable to hold than the previous generation. However, some design decisions feel questionable, such as the bottom edge of the screen protruding slightly past the main body, and the current limitation to a single purple colorway. Weighing in at 785 grams—ten grams lighter than the previous iteration—the device feels relatively balanced despite its bulky dimensions, which still require a dedicated, large carrying case. The cooling fan remains reasonably quiet, particularly at power outputs of 25 watts and below.

The Intel Arc G3 Extreme chip delivers a remarkable performance jump, showing up to a 40% improvement in standard scenarios and exceeding 70% in demanding titles, all while optimizing battery longevity during extended gaming sessions.

Real-World Gaming Benchmarks

Testing the device across demanding titles like Forza Horizon 6 and Middle-earth: Shadow of War demonstrates the true prowess of the upgraded hardware. Operating at a modest 15-watt threshold, the Claw EX achieves smooth performance levels that previously required a 25-watt draw on older models. For lighter games such as Silksong and Hades 2, users can easily enjoy maximum graphical fidelity at 120Hz while extracting over four hours of continuous playtime. Even at maximum outputs reaching 35 watts, the hardware maintains stability, though power draw increases noticeably.

Pricing and Market Availability

Ultimately, the MSI Claw 8 EX AI successfully outpaces much of the competition in both raw performance and power management. However, these technological advancements come at a steep price. Retailing abroad at approximately $1,800—partly driven by severe memory shortages in the global supply chain—the device commands around 7,000 NIS locally. While it represents an engineering triumph, its high cost ensures it will remain an exclusive product for dedicated enthusiasts until component pricing stabilizes in future generations.